The National Laboratory on Early Childhood Education: Toward Constructive Change.

This paper describes the goals, model, programs and organization of the National Laboratory on Early Childhood Education, which was established in 1967 as the first national research and development program focused on early childhood education. The central goal is the development of specifications for the best learning environments of children from birth to nine years of age. The operational model of the Laboratory concerns itself with all functions, from research through training; it is built upon the programs or work to be accomplished and allows for continuous feedback. The basic program areas are: (1) research and synthesis on the effects of individual personal characteristics on learning performance, (2) research and synthesis of environmental influences on the educability of young children, (3) curriculum research and development for the design of educational intervention, (4) development and evaluation of educational change agent roles, and (5) development of evaluation techniques and supporting technology. A brief description is given of the 8 geographically dispersed component centers of the National Laboratory. The work of the centers is organized around programs of research and development coordination; intra- and extramural collaboration; communications; development of human and material resources; funding and fiscal management; and planning and management. (Author/NH)